PRELUDE TO A MERGER, MAT HASAN TOSSES OUT A RED HERRING TO WARLORDS UNHAPPY OVER LOSS OF KEY SEATS: ‘UMNO-PAS CAN WIN BACK 4 STATES – NEGRI SEMBILAN, MALACCA, PERAK & KEDAH – IF THE UMMAH IS UNITED’

UMNO’S cooperation with PAS can see both Malay-Muslim parties defeat Pakatan Harapan in four states in the next general election, said Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan.

The two opposition parties stand a chance of forming the government in Perak, Kedah, Malacca and Negri Sembilan, he said when officiating the Kluang Umno division meeting in Johor today.

“By uniting the ummah (believers), we can take back Negri Sembilan, Malacca, Perak and Kedah. In all, we can rule in eight states,” Mohamad said, referring to Pahang and Perlis, which are still under Barisan Nasional, and Terengganu and Kelantan, which are ruled by PAS.

He said it would be harder for the Umno-PAS pact to gain traction in Johor, as BN and PAS only held 17 out of 56 state seats there.

However, he said that if Umno and PAS worked hard and cooperated fully, they could win back 10 state seats in the 15th general election.

“If we have 27 seats (in Johor), we just need one more seat,” he said, referring to a hung assembly, which would open the doors to tilting the balance of power either way.

“So, don’t give up. See this as Allah’s blessing. His blessings do not always come in the form that we like. In hardship, there can be blessings, too.”

Mohamad said Umno and PAS chapters in all states should be making plans on their political cooperation, as each state will face unique challenges, he added.

“Each state should have it’s own ‘business model’, according to the situation,” said the Rantau assemblyman and former Negri Sembilan menteri besar.

He also advised Umno members not to be overly excited about thinking of seat divisions between the two Malay parties as such matters should be discussed consultatively.

Umno and PAS are to sign a joint charter on their political pact on September 14, sealing a new development on the political scene since both parties began exploring the idea of closer cooperation following BN’s loss of federal power in the general election last year.

THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT